Genome-wide characterisation of the three amino acid loop extension gene family
of watermelon in response to abiotic stresses
#MMPMID41341303
Qiu Z
; Dong J
; Chen L
; Zhao L
; Hu L
; Wang H
Front Plant Sci
2025[]; 16
(?): 1711607
PMID41341303
show ga
INTRODUCTION: The TALE gene family acts as key regulators of plant growth,
development, and stress adaptation. However, systematic characterization of this
family in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.), an economically important cucurbit
crop susceptible to abiotic stresses like drought and cold, is lacking. This gap
hinders understanding of watermelon's stress-responsive mechanisms and the
breeding of stress-resilient varieties. METHODS: ClTALE genes were
comprehensively identified using the watermelon genome database. Bioinformatics
analyses (phylogenetic classification, genomic structure annotation, conserved
motif detection, cis-acting element prediction) were performed. Protein-protein
interactions were inferred via STRING. qRT-PCR detected expression profiles under
drought, low potassium (LK), and melatonin + cold (MT+CT) treatments. Subcellular
localization of candidate genes was analyzed by transient expression, and yeast
heterologous expression verified stress tolerance under PEG-simulated drought.
RESULTS: A total of 22 ClTALE members were identified, clustering into seven
subclades (KNOX-I/STM, KNOX-II, BELL-I to BELL-V). Their promoters contain
abundant hormone-related (abscisic acid, jasmonic acid) and abiotic
stress-related (drought, cold) cis-acting elements. ClTALE proteins may interact
with core growth and development transcription factors. ClTALE2, 3, 8, 11, and 20
were significantly upregulated under drought; ClTALE2 and 3 showed cross-response
to LK and MT+CT. ClTALE3 localizes to the nucleus, and its overexpression
enhanced yeast tolerance to PEG stress. DISCUSSION: This study is the first
systematic characterization of the watermelon ClTALE family, clarifying its
genomic features, evolutionary relationships, and stress-responsive patterns.
ClTALE2 and 3 (especially ClTALE3) exhibit potential as key stress adaptation
regulators. These findings provide a theoretical basis and genetic resources for
elucidating watermelon's stress-resistance mechanisms and breeding
stress-tolerant varieties.